Form cleaning apparatus



May 22, 1962 A. JENNINGS 3 5 FORM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 19583 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVEN TO/P. 14L BERT 1.. JENNINGS y 22, 1962 A. L.JENNINGS 3,035,539

FORM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN 70R.41 BERT L. Jf/YN/NGJ /M MM United States Patent 3,035,539 FORM CLEANINGAPPARATUS Albert Laurence Jennings, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor toEconomy Forms Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa FiledDec. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 779,452 2 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This inventionrelates generally to a form cleaning apparatus and more particularly, toa portable apparatus on which one or more metal forms used on concreteconstruction may be placed for mechanized cleaning and lubricating.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel portableapparatus for cleaning and lubricating steel forms used on concreteconstruction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a readily portableapparatus on which a concrete metal form is mechanically conveyed fromone end of the apparatus to the other, and during which conveyance theform is subjected to a sequential cleaning and lubricating action.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable apparatusfor cleaning a form used on concrete construction wherein a lubricatingunit has a lubricant applicator arranged and constructed so as to beautomatically maintained at all times in a saturated condition.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a concrete metalform cleaner apparatus having a form conveyor, and a lubricating unitwhich includes a lubricant applicator and a trip valve mechanismassociated therewith which is actuated by a conveyed form wherebylubricant is supplied to the applicator only during a lubricatingoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable apparatus forcleaning and lubricating a metal form used on concrete constructionwhich is simple and rugge in construction, economical to manufacture,and efiicient in operation.

Further objects, features and advantages of this inven tion will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable form cleaner of thisinvention, with some parts broken away for the purpose of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the form cleaner of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the form cleanerof this invention, showing particularly the discharge end of the formconveyor in assembly relation with the lubricating unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lubricating unit as seensubstantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 showing the trip valve mechanismthereof in a first or closed position;

FlG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and showing thetrip valve mechanism moved to a second or open position in response to aform moving under the lubricant applicator of the lubricating unit; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the power transmissionsystem for the form cleaning and the conveying units.

Referring now to the drawings, the form cleaner apparatus of thisinvention is indicated generally at 19 in FIG. 1 and comprises aportable frame assembly 11 mounted on a pair of wheels 12 and having ahitch 15 adapted for connection to a towing vehicle (not shown). Forsupporting the frame 11 in a substantially horizontal position, when thehitch '15 is disconnected, there is provided at its front end aretractable leg unit 13.

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Additionally, the apparatus 10 includes the following assemblies whichare mounted on the frame assembly 11: a conveyor 14 for moving a form tobe cleaned from one end of the frame to the other, a brush assembly 16for cleaning the conveyed form, a lubricating assembly 17 forlubricating the cleaned form, and a power unit 19 for operating theconveyor 14 and the brush assembly 16.

The frame assembly 11 includes a pair of longitudinally extended,transversely spaced channel members 22, mounted on axle supports 23(only one shown) and connected at the front end by a towing hitch unit24 and at the rear end by a roller unit 26. Two longitudinally spacedpairs of transversely aligned bearing mountings 27 and 28 (FIG. 1) areprovided on the channel members 22 for rotatably supporting the frontand rear con veyor rolls 29 and 31 respectively. The front bearingmountings 27 are movable longitudinally of the frame members 22 as theyare part of a pair of conveyor belt takeup units 32 (FIG. 1) (only oneshowing) of a conventional type.

The conveyor belt assembly 14 includes an endless belt 33 of preferablyan oil resistant type belting. The belt is trained about the front andrear pulleys 29 and 31 respectively each of which is built with a crown(not shown) for proper tracking of the belt. A plurality of ball bearingrollers 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are mounted on the inside of the channelmembers 22 for maintaining the top portion 35 of the belt 33 in ahorizontal plane.

The brush assembly 16 includes a housing 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extendedacross the conveyor belt 33 and mounted at each end on top of thechannel members 22 toward the front end of the frame assembly 11. Asshown particularly in FIG. 2, the housing 36 extends angularly to thedirection of travel of the belt top 35 as indicated by the arrow 37. Arotary brush unit 38 (FIG. 1) which preferably comprises a plurality oftransversely spaced, individual steel wire circular brushes mounted on ashaft 39 is contained within the housing 36, the ends of the shaft 39being rotatably mounted in bearing units 41 (FIG. 2) at each end of thehousing. Standard type talteup units 42 (FIG. 1) are provided at eachend of the shaft 39 for adjusting the brush unit 38 relative to theconveyor belt 33.

The lubricating assembly includes -'a fluid lubricant tank or reservoir44 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extended transversely across the conveyor belt 33,and mounted at each end to a pair of end plates 46 (FIG. 3) secured toand projected upwardly from respective frame members 22. As shown inFIG. 2, the reservoir 44 is mounted adjacent the rear end of the frameassembly 11 and rearwardly of the brush assembly 16. Directly below thereservoir, and extended transversely across the belt 33 is an elongatedpipe 49 (FIG. 3), the ends of which are supported on the plates 46. Theend 50 of the pipe 49 is connected through a hose unit 51 with thereservoir 44. A plurality of valve ports 53 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are formedin a longitudinally spaced relation in the top of the pipe 49.

For complementary action with the valve ports 53, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced valve trip or actuator units 54 (FIGS. 4 and 5)are provided. As each unit 54 is the same, only one will be described,with like reference numerals indicating like parts. A unit 54 includes atrip lever 56 having a circular portion 57 formed at one end which isrotatably mounted on a stationary rod 58, and having a straight portion59 extended from the rod directly over a valve member 53 and a portion61 depending therefrom to where its end 6-2 is spaced 8. predetermineddistance above the upper length 35 of the conveyor belt. Attached to thestraight portion 59 is a downwardly tapered valve seat 63 insertablewithin, so

as to close, the respective valve port 53 therebelow. Of note, the rod58 is common to all the valve trip actuators 54. For biasing the triplever 56 downwardly so as to normaly maintain the valve port 53 (FIG. 4)closed, a coil spring 55 is arranged in compression between the leversstraight portion 59 and a seat or socket 6! provided therefor in theunderside of a bar 65 extended tran versely between and secured to theend plates 46.

Mounted directly below the lubricant feed pipe 4? is a transverselyextended V-shaped trough member 64 (FIGS. 4 and which has a plurality oflongitudinally spaced openings 66 formed in the apex thereof, each ofwhich is located directly below a respective valve port 53. The ends ofthe trough member 64 are each mounted on an angle iron 68 (FIG. 4) whichis secured by bolts to the top of a box housing 69 having a verticalgroove (not shown) on each side thereof. By virtue of the ends of thetrough 64 abutting the upstanding legs 70 of the angle irons 63, thetrough is closed olf at each end thereof. The housing 69 is slidablyinserted in place by registering the grooves with a pair oflongitudinally spaced, parallel guide bars 71 secured to a channelshaped end member 72, the base 73 (FIG. 4) of the box housing 69 restingon an adjusting unit 74 whereby to space the base 73 above the framemember 22 a predetermined distance. Directly below the trough member 64is an elongated lubricant applicator 77 comprised of a roller rotatablymounted on a tube 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) provided therefor extendedtransversely between and secured to the end plates 46. A layer 67 offibrous material for holding the lubricant is secured to the roller. Thelower peripheral portion or surface 94 of the applicator 77 is spaced apredetermined distance from the belts top length for a purposehereinafter described. Mounted a spaced distance in front of theapplicator 77 is a bar 75 (FIG. 4) which is secured to the end plates46, the purpose of which is to limit the upward movemen L of the lever56.

The apparatus 1%) is utilized in the most eflicient manner by cleaning aplurality of forms of the same size and at the same location. Its sizeis such that it may easily be moved by hand from one stack of forms toanother, the retractable leg 13 being dropped as mentioned hereinbeforeto place the frame assembly 11 in a level condition.

Depending on the thickness of the forms, the take-up units 42 for thebrush assembly 16 are adjusted so as to set the brush unit 3-8 at theproper height above the belt 33. Additionally, the height, of theapplicator 77 is also properly set by moving the box housing 69 on thevertical guide bars 71, the adjusting unit 74 holding the housing 69 atthe desired place.

In the operation of the apparatus, the power unit 19 is started so as tooperate the conveyor 33 and the brush unit 38 in a manner hereinafterdescribed. The main valve 52 (FIG. 3) is opened so as to ensure that thefeed pipe 49 is continually full of lubricant.

A form F to be cleaned is placed smooth side up on the belt 33 at thefront of the apparatus It). It is recommended that the form be loaded onthe belt with its length parallel the length of the apparatus as opposedto being loaded transverse or parallel with the brush unit 38. The formF is carried under the brush unit where the form face is thoroughlycleaned. The form F (FIG. 5) is then conveyed under a certainlongitudinal portion of the applicator 77, the layer 67 of which issaturated with oil prior to the operation. As the moving form contactsthe lower surface 95 (FIG. 5) of the layer 67, it forces the applicatorto rotate about its shaft 76. Thus, as the applicator rotates, the face96 of the form is lubricated by a continually changing peripheralportion of the layer 67, ensuring a complete lubrication of the face $6.

As the moving form is lubricated, the front part 97 thereof contacts andforces upwardly or clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 5) the particularactuator lever 56 immediately behind or to the rear of that part of theapplicator used to lubricate. This action raises the valve seat 63whereby the lubricant within the pipe 49 is forced out of the openingprovided by the valve member 53. Of note, as the valve port 53 is on topof the pipe 49, lubricant is taken from the top of the pipe so that dirtor foreign matter will settle out and not clog the ports. The lubricantthen dribbles down and around the pipe 49 and drips directly into thetrough 64 and through an opening 66 to fall onto that particularperipheral longitudinal portion of the applicators layer 67 used tolubricate. As the motion of the form F continually forces the applicatorto rotate, it may readily be seen that that peripheral longitudinalportion thereof used to lubricate is the only one replenished withlubricant.

The cleaned and lubricated form F is then carried on the conveyor belt33 to the rear end of the conveyor assembly from whence it may be takenofi as it is moved out over the rear roller unit 26. The same operationis then repeated for the next form.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the power unit 19 includes a conventionalengine 78 having a clutch operated power take-01f unit 79 for driving apulley 81 and a belt 82 therefor. The belt 82 in turn drives a pulley 83attached to one end of the brush unit shaft 39, the drive being takenoff from the other end of the shaft by another belt 84 and transmittedto a double pulley unit 86.

A pair of belts 87 and 88 and another double pulley unit 89 are providedto transmit the drive from the unit 86 to a driven wheel 91, and a shaft92 attached thereto then transmits the drive to the rear conveyor roll31 whereby drive is imparted to the conveyor belt 33. It may thus beseen that operation of the engine 73 causes the brush unit 38 and theconveyor belt 33 to operate simultaneously. Protective housings 92 and93 (FIGS. 1 and Z) are provided by the pulleys and belts of the powersystem.

It should be noted that although the operation is described by themoving form F contacting one actuator lever 56, in all practicality aplurality of adjacent levers will be contacted depending on the widthand construction of the form.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein, it isto be remembered that various alterations may be made within the fullscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for cleaning a form used on concrete constiuctioncomprising; a frame, rotatable conveyor means mounted on said frame formoving a form from one end of said frame to the other end thereof, meansmounted on said frame for cleaning e moved form, means mounted on saidframe for lubricating a moved form, said lubricating means including afluid reservoir, a closed end conduit member connected at one end to andmounted below said fluid reservoir and having at least one valve portformed therein for the emission of said lubricant, a valve mechanismincluding a pivotally mounted actuator member and a valve seat carriedthereby, means biasing said actuator member toward a first position,said actuator member extended in the path of a form on said rotatableconveyor means and movable upon contact by a form to a second position,said valve seat being movable from a position closing said valve port toa position opening said valve port upon movement of said actuator memberfrom said first position to said second position, and a rotatablymounted work actuated applicator having an outer porous material, saidapplicator being mounted between said means for cleaning and saidactuator member directly beneath said valve port above said movableconveyor means, whereby said applicator engages a form and is actuatedthereby.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning a form used on concrete construction andhaving a portable frame and a conveyor belt mounted on said frame forconveying a form thereover; means for lubricating said form con- 5currently with its conveyance comprising, 'an elongated tubularcontainer for holding a supply of fluid lubricant extended transverselyover said conveyor belt, a plurality of valve ponts formed in saidcontainer in longitudinally spaced relation substantially the entirelength thereof, a plurality of valve actuator members one for each valveport and each of which is independently and pivotally mounted so as toextend above a respective valve port with one end thereof spaced abovesaid conveyor belt whereby to be moved upwardly in response to aconveyed form passing under said container, a valve seat elementconnected to each actuator member and adapted to close said respectivevalve pont when said actuator member is non-actuated and to open samewhen said actuator member is moved upwardly, a drip trough extendedtransversely across said conveyor belt and below said container andhaving a plurality of openings formed therein each of which is directlyunder a valve port, and a rotatably mounted porous roller extended undersaid drip trough and transversely across and above said conveyor belt soas to contact a conveyed form, said roller being actuated by contactwith a conveyed form, whereby a conveyed form is adapted to belubricated by said roller at any longitudinal pent-ion thereof and alsoto contact at least one or more of said plurality of actuator members soas to relubricate only that longitudinal portion used to lubricate saidform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS583,871 Travis et al. June 1, 1897 1,289,475 Keller Dec. 31, 19181,295,762 Koenig et al Feb. 25, 1919 1,529,691 Davis Mar. 17, 19251,610,374 *Heichert et a1 h Dec. 14, 1926 2,333,285 Wellnitz Nov. 2,1943 2,358,596 Rosenlund t Sept. 19, 1944 2,617,223 McElroy et a1 Nov.11, 1952 2,828,714 Sandberg Apr. 1, 1958

